Full name: Kelli Cannon
Current job title: Finance Department – Controller
Tell us what brought you to Pearl and what skills you acquired in each of your previous roles that helped get you to your current role?
Despite getting degrees in business, I originally had no intention of doing accounting. However, after being told that I didn’t have enough accounting coursework for a promotion I wanted, I decided I would show them and get my CPA certification. That’s just who I am… I don’t back down from a challenge lol. The more I worked directly in accounting the more I loved it. Accounting is the language of business. You interpret it to drive decision-making to grow your business and I love being part of that. I spent 16 years of my career at Battelle Memorial Institute, a Government Contractor in Columbus, Ohio. My time at Battlefield Memorial really helped to expand my knowledge of accounting systems and government contract accounting and I’ve used those skills to add value here at Pearl. However, more than anything, as daughter and granddaughter of entrepreneurs, I chose Pearl because I wanted to work with and learn from Merry Korn, an amazing woman in business. I love working for a company with a social mission. In any business, the goal is to make a profit, but at Pearl it’s more than that. Merry’s vision of removing barriers to employment for challenged populations and providing compassionate beneficiary services as a contact center solution make me proud to work here.
What are your career goals?
My career aspirations are to be a CFO….look out Jim Caldwell, I’m coming for your job :).
What has been the biggest lesson you have learned in your job?
The biggest lesson that I have learned throughout my career is to not let things happen to you, but rather make them happen for you! We can’t always control everything. Sometimes you must trust the process and turn obstacles into opportunities. And don’t forget to laugh!
What is your advice for someone who may be interested in pursuing a role in your current field? For anyone considering a career in accounting, don’t let the debits and credits bore you out of the field at first like I did. There’s so much more to it than that. It just took me longer to realize it.
What is a Fun Fact that many of your coworkers may not know? I’m a hoot…. but I think they know that bahahahaha
Do you have a special talent or any hobbies?
I have a husband, 3 amazing children, ages 23, 17, and 13, and two rambunctious dogs. They are the loves of my life and they all keep me pretty busy, but my secret special talent is that I LOVE to sing!!!! When I was younger, I wanted to be Christine in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. Somehow, I ended up in accounting lol.
I also like to volunteer time to organizations that are meaningful to me such as Veteran Companion Animal Services which matches pets with vets to aid in preventing veteran suicide the Byron Saunders Foundation which provides Thanksgiving meals for families in need and Soroptimist International where we advocate for women and girls by providing access to education and training needed to achieve economic empowerment.